Cabrera hit a tying double in the ninth inning off Toronto closer Roberto Osuna, and the Detroit Tigers went on to beat the Blue Jays 3-2 on Tuesday night on Ian Kinsler’s game-winning single in the 10th.
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It’s the longest win streak for the Indians since August 25-31 and extended their lead over Kansas City in the AL Central to 2 1/2 games. In the fourth inning, he dodged danger on long, warning-track fly balls from Justin Upton and James McCann. The Blue Jays traded Boyd to the Tigers previous year in the deal that sent David Price to Toronto. After returning to action following a groin injury Friday, Zimmermann held the White Sox to two runs on five hits in 5.2 innings.
“He’s not dangling over a cliff”, Ausmus said.
Kinsler followed with an RBI double, ending Sanchez’s brilliant performance.
Kinsler’s RBI double in the ninth chased Sanchez, and Cabrera’s double off Osuna tied it. Detroit came into three of those games as the favorite. “I was capable of much better”.
The Tigers loaded the bases in the 10th with no outs against Joe Biagini (3-2), and Kinsler won it with a chopper into left field.
Nick Castellanos – The biggest bright spot offensively for the Tigers, Castellanos was 2-for-3 with the home run, single in the third and walk. Donaldson’s team-high 14th homer put the Blue Jays back on top 5-2 in the third.
Kinsler then delivered his eighth career walk-off hit and first of the season. “He really couldn’t get anything going”. “It took until the ninth inning”.
Since May 17, the 25-year-old right-hander is 1-2 with a 7.77 ERA in 24 1/3 innings. He has a 1-0 record and 0.66 ERA in two career starts against the Blue Jays.
“I think my best pitch of the day was a pick-off to first”, said Dickey, not necessarily trying to be amusing.
Jose Iglesias would lead off the bottom of the 9th with a single to get the rally started. DH Victor Martinez, who has appeared in all but one game, was also out of the lineup. “He was as good as anybody could be”.
Kevin Pillar scored both Jays’ runs, including a solo homer.
– The Tigers matched Toronto in hits (nine), but left eight runners on base.
“They’ve all been pitching well”, Gibbons said. “We needed to plate a few more, that’s for sure”.
“Nobody likes to get hit around”.
The Cleveland Indians were 3-1 winners over the Mariners, the Houston Astros lost 6-5 in a walk off to the Texas Rangers, the San Diego Padres were too good for the Atlanta Braves 7-2 and the Tampa Bay Rays trumped the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-4.
“It was a handsome team effort”, Iglesias said. They might be waking up to him a little bit. “We got a big win tonight”.
Jose Bautista might be the majors’ unusual leadoff hitter.
Tigers: RHP Shane Greene pitched 1 2/3 innings of relief, allowing a run.
Another showdown stretch with seven of the next 11 games against the Orioles looms for the Blue Jays, who’ll need a lot more of what they got from Donaldson in the days to come.
Now, suddenly it is Estrada as the No. 1, followed by Happ and Sanchez as two and three.
NOTES: Detroit CF Cameron Maybin did not start. The Tigers went on to win that game, 10-8.
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Cabrera’s drive to deep right-center made it 2-2. “We’re winning, that’s the bottom line”, manager John Gibbons said.
